Bicyclists from Fla. shine in 29th Roan Groan

Jeff Birchfield, net news service
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Jun 9, 2013 at 12:52 PM

ROAN MOUNTAIN — Although there are no mountains in Florida, it didn’t keep a pair of riders from the Sunshine State from playing king of the mountain at the 29th running of the Nor-Well Roan Groan bicycle race on Saturday morning.

Jimmy Schurman, a 22-year-old from Deerfield Beach, won the Pro 1-2 category in the 55-mile road race that ends with nearly an 8-mile uphill climb. His time of 2:31:26 placed him 39 seconds ahead of runner-up Shawn Gravois, a 26-year-old from Sarasota.

Schurman was the second straight Florida native to win the Roan Groan, following Robert Sweeting’s victory last year.

Fans could be excused for seeing double in the women’s race. Emily Shields, a 19-year-old from Salisbury, N.C., wound up a couple of bike lengths ahead of her twin sister Katherine at the finish.

The twins are no strangers to the mountains, currently living in Banner Elk where they attend Lees-McRae College.